Can indigestion cause fever? These are the causes of fever

People often associate "cold" and "fever" together, but for children, many fevers are caused by indigestion and food accumulation. Experts say that according to traditional Chinese medicine, improper diet leading to indigestion will damage the spleen and stomach functions. If this continues for a long time, the internal heat generated cannot be eliminated in time and will inevitably be emitted externally and cause fever.

1. Causes of fever

Fever is a clinical symptom caused by potential infection or inflammation in the body. The cause can be mild or severe. If there are no other symptoms, it may simply be an imbalance in the body's temperature control center. But severe cases may be life-threatening. Especially if there are symptoms other than fever, it may be the cause of the disease and should not be ignored.

2. Indigestion can cause fever

People often associate "cold" and "fever" together, but for children, many fevers are caused by indigestion and food accumulation.

Experts say that according to traditional Chinese medicine, improper diet leading to indigestion will damage the spleen and stomach functions. If this continues for a long time, the internal heat generated cannot be eliminated in time and will inevitably be emitted externally and cause fever.

Generally, fever caused by indigestion is a low-grade fever, and is accompanied by symptoms such as thick tongue coating, abdominal distension and pain, irritability, and poor sleep.

Fever caused by food accumulation is more common in children, especially infants and young children during breastfeeding. This is because, on the one hand, infants and young children cannot control their own food intake, and parents will make their children eat too much if they are not careful; on the other hand, dairy products are difficult to digest, and they form lumps in the stomach and easily generate heat. In addition, the child's digestive system is not sound enough, which makes it more likely to cause indigestion.

3. 10 possible causes of fever

In order to help mothers avoid panic and correctly face and deal with the problem of baby's fever, we asked Dr. Yang Jianzhi to conduct outpatient statistics on neonatology and general pediatrics, rank the top 10 "most likely causes" of baby's fever, and mark their dangers.

1. Cold

Both common cold and influenza are the most common diseases in babies. Both bacterial and viral infections are possible.

The symptoms vary, including fever, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal discomfort, diarrhea, and ear, nose and throat problems.

The doctor will give you "symptomatic treatment" drugs, and if you want to rest more and drink plenty of water, you will usually recover in 3 to 5 days.

However, if not properly cared for, complications such as otitis media, encephalitis, meningitis, etc. may occur, and there is a risk of a high fever of over 39 degrees.

Danger Index: (5th)

2. Ear, nose and throat inflammation

Ear, nose and throat problems usually cause inflammation, which leads to redness and swelling. It is a viral infection.

Symptoms vary, common ones include fever, cough, runny nose, red and swollen throat (babies are usually unwilling to eat), etc.

The doctor will give you "symptomatic treatment" drugs, and if you want to rest more and drink plenty of water, you will usually recover in 3 to 5 days.

The disease is prone to complications such as otitis media, atopic otitis, pneumonia, etc., and there is also a risk of high fever over 39 degrees.

Danger Index: (7th)

3. Roseola

It is named after the roseola virus infection. Babies around 1 year old are most likely to get it.

The typical symptom is an unexplained high fever (over 39°C) that lasts about 3 to 4 days, followed by a rash (the fever will subside at this time). The rash usually disappears slowly without leaving any scars or other complications, so parents do not need to worry.

Danger Index: (8th)

4. Get vaccinated

Many babies have mild fevers due to vaccinations, but more obvious fevers usually occur after the injection of the "diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus" vaccine.

If you are unwell or have a cold, it is not suitable to take your baby for vaccination to avoid confusion about the symptoms.

The observation period for fever caused by vaccination is 72 hours. If it exceeds this period, the fever is no longer caused by the vaccine, and parents need to make another judgment.

Danger Index: (9th)

5. Sepsis

It is a disease in which bacteria invade the bloodstream.

It is usually the result of inbreeding, poor innate immunity, or use of high doses of steroids.

Patients with sepsis have a 1/3 chance of developing meningitis, so it ranks second in risk.

Danger Index: (2nd)

6. Urinary tract infection

The disease is most common in boys and girls under 1 year old. For baby girls, it is usually caused by feces or diapers; for baby boys, it is caused by bladder and ureteral reflux.

Apart from the fact that the fever can easily reach above 38.5, it is not easy to detect from the outside.

Because it is a bacterial infection, medical treatment usually includes antibiotics, which takes about 2 weeks to heal.

Possible complications are impaired renal function and renal suppuration.

Danger Index: (6th)

7. Encephalitis and meningitis

The disease is most common in babies between 6 months and 3 years old.

The most typical and threatening symptom is a high fever of over 39°C. It is also accompanied by mental fatigue, dull eyes, poor appetite, and even cramps.

The only solution is to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Currently the only way to check is to do a spinal tap. (It is a safe medical procedure performed by professionals and parents do not need to worry.)

People hospitalized for encephalitis are usually given drugs that lower blood pressure in the brain and antiviral drugs. Patients hospitalized with meningitis need to be treated with antibiotics and it takes about 2 to 3 weeks to recover.

It ranks first in terms of risk because of the possibility of invasive complications, such as hearing and vision impairment, mental retardation, neurological dysfunction (cerebral palsy), and even death.

Danger Index: (No. 1)

8. Wearing too much, getting hot, and summer heat

Fevers caused by this type of reason are usually short-lived and not dangerous, but many parents tend to overlook them.

As long as the baby is active and in good spirits and has a good appetite, if the baby has a fever, it may be because he is wearing too many clothes or the indoor temperature is too high. As long as the current situation is improved, overheating will usually no longer be a problem.

Danger Index: None (10th)

9. Gastroenteritis with dehydration

It is divided into two types: bacterial (Salmonella) infection and viral (rotavirus) infection. Symptoms include: vomiting, diarrhea, urinary incontinence, loss of appetite, poor spirits, and fever above 38.5 (combined with dehydration).

This disease requires medical treatment and hospitalization, and the patient needs to be given injections and drips to add electrolytes, and his excrement also needs to be specially isolated.

Mild cases can be cured in 3 days, but usually it takes 7 to 14 days.

Danger Index: (4th)

10. Kawasaki disease

Babies aged 1 to 18 months are at high risk for the disease, and the reason is still unknown.

There are many symptoms, such as high fever above 39 to 40 degrees Celsius for several days; red eyes; strawberry tongue, chapped lips, swollen hands, feet and limbs; swollen lymph nodes in the neck; and redness and swelling at the site of BCG injection.

Hospitalization is necessary. The doctor will first perform a cardiac ultrasound examination (to check whether the coronary arteries are enlarged) and then give immunoglobulin treatment. It usually takes 10 to 14 days to recover.

After healing, peeling of the skin will occur around the limbs and anus.

Danger Index: (3rd)